Combined vehicle body frame and chassis



Aug. 22, 1944. A. R. PERKINS COMBINED VEHICLE BQDY FRAME AND CHA SS'IS Filed. July 25, 1941 I Y 3- Sheets-Sheet 1 RPQ/a g- 1944' A. R. PERKINS COMBINED VEHICLE BODY FRAME AND CHASSIS Filed July 23, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W Q ME NH b -VIIIA m\ m n m\\ m m% K \N 5% k 4 a m a h M M 1- QM b\\ wwm '& \\Q F? No NE \\m m n hm "j N \&

Aug. 22, 1944. A. R. PERKINS COMBINED VEHICLE BODY FRAME AND CHASSIS Filed Jul 25, 1941 JZRnPer/rina Patented Aug. 22, 1944 OFFIC COMBINED VEHICLE BODY FRAME AND CHASSIS Arthur R. Perkins, Oneonta, N. Y. Application July 23, 1941, Serial No. 493,731

2 Claims.

This invention relates to truck or vehicle body frames, and is an improvementover the frame structure embodied in my Patent No. 2,196,939, which issued on April 9, 1940.

An object of this invention is to provide a vehicle frame which is so constructed as to permit elimination of the conventional chassis frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined chassis and body frame for a vehicle which also have incorporated therein elements for receiving a power plant assembly frame, so that the two frames may be constructed as separate units and subsequently combined together to thereby form a substantially unitary structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a vehicle body frame which is constructed out of tubular frame members which may be either round or square in transverse section or may be a combination of round and square tubular frame members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a vehicle body frame in combination with a drop or downwardly offset rear axle which will permit the positioning of the floor of the body at a much lower level than is at present possible and also eliminate a transverse rear axle well or cover.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a combined vehicle body frame and chassis constructed according to an embodiment of this invention and taken on the line II of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 7-1 of Figure 4, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals I9 and 10 designate generally a pair of upright or vertical skeleton side wall members, the numerals I I and I 2 designate generally skeleton top and bottom wall members respectively and the numerals I3 and I4 designate generally the skeleton rear and front wall members forming the skeleton or open frame structure, which is so constructed as to eliminate the necessity for providing a chassis. The side wall members It) and I9 are of substantially like construction and each includes a lower channel or tubular frame member I5 extending longitudinally of the frame structure and each side wall member also includes a longitudinally extending upper tubular frame member I 6 disposed in upwardly spaced parallel relation to the lower frame member I5.

An intermediate tubular frame member I! is disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect to the lower and upper frame members 55 and I 6 and is secured to a plurality of upright or vertical tubular members I8, I9, 29 and '2I. The upright tubular members I8 to 2| inclusive are welded or otherwise fixedly secured at their lower and upper ends to the lower and upper frame members I5 and I6 respectively and the intermediate frame member I1 is also welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the uprights IE to El inclusive. A pair of crossed bracing members 22 and 23 are disposed between the uprights I8 and I9 and may be welded together, as at 24, at their crossing points and the bracing members 22 and 23 are also adapted to be welded tothe lower frame member l5 and the intermediate frame member I! together with the uprights I8 and I9.

A second pair of crossed bracing members 24 and 25 are disposed between the uprights I9 and 29 and are welded at the opposite ends thereof to the lower and intermediate frame members i5 and I7 and are also welded together at their crossing points as at 26. The bracing members 24 and 25 are also adapted to be welded to the adjacent sides of the uprights I9 and 20. An other pair of crossed bracing members 27 and 28 are welded together at their cross points as at 29 and are also adapted to be welded at the 0pposite ends thereof to the lower and intermediate frame members I5 and IT and also to the adja cent sides of the uprights 20 and 2 I.

An upright 30 is disposed in forwardly spaced parallel relation with respect to the upright 2| and is secured as by welding or the like between the lower and upper frame members l5 and Hi. The upright 2| and the upright 3|] form a doorway and preferably an elongated bar or strip 3| is welded between the upper ends of the uprights 2| and 33 and may also be welded to the under side of the upper tubular member [6. A substantially semi-circular upstanding well forming member 32 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the forward end of the lower frame member 5. The Well forming member 32 is formed preferably of angle iron and is adapted to loosely engage about a wheel. A rear substantially semicircular well forming member 33 which is formed of angle iron is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the rear end of a lower frame member I5 and is adapted to have a wheel loosely mounted therein.

Each side wall H] has secured to the well 32 at a point forwardly of the vertical axis thereof an upright angle member 34. The angle member 34 extends up to the forward end of the upper frame member H5 and is adapted to be fixedly secured thereto as by Welding or the like. A horizontally disposed angle member 35 is adapted to be secured at its rear end as by welding or the like to the forward side of the upright door frame member and is also adapted to be welded to the upright angle member 34. The horizontal angle member may also be welded to the upper side; as at 36, of the well forming member 32. A second upright angle member 37 is disposed rearwardly of the forward upright angle member 34 and is positioned in forwardly spaced parallel relation with respect to the upright tubular door frame forming member 30.

The upright angle member 31 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured at its lower end to the horizontal angle member 38 and is welded or otherwise fixedly secured at its upper end to the upper tubular member I6. A horizontally disposed elongated bar 38 is disposed in upwardly spaced parallel relation with respect to the horizontal angle member 35 and may be formed of a flat strip of metal, which is welded at its rear end as at 39 to the upright tubular member 35. The bar 38 may be welded to the outer side of the upright angle member 31 and may also. be welded at its forward end as at 40 to the forward angle member 34.

A horizontally disposed bar or strip 4| is positioned between the two upright angle members 34 and 37 being welded to the angle members as at 42 and 43 respectively. The bar 4! is adapted to form the lower edge portion of a window frame structure and a second window frame forming bar 44 is disposed in upwardly spaced parallel relation with respect to the bar 4| and is secured as at 45 and 45 to the angle members 34 and 31 respectively. The upper edge of the bar 34 may also be welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the under side of the upper frame member l5. An arcuate or semi-elliptical window frame forming member 4! is welded to the: rear side of the upright angle member 3'! and extends rearwardly therefrom. A connecting or bracing bar '48 is welded as at 49 tothe arcuate bar 41 and may also be welded as at 53 to the forward side of the upright 30.

The front wall structure l4 includes a lower channel or tubular frame member 5|, which is longitudinally :bowed and also includes an upper bowed frame member 52 of tubular construc- ,tion. An intermediate bowed tubular member 53 is disposed between the lower and upper front frame members 5| and 52 and is welded at the opposite ends thereof to the forward upright angle members 34. The lower bowed frame member 5| is welded at the free rear ends thereof to the lower front portion of the well forming member 32. The upper bowed frame member 52 may be welded or formed integrally with the upper' tubular frame member l6. Y

A pair of vertically disposed tubular posts 54 and 55 are disposed between the lower frame member 5| and the intermediate frame member 53. The opposite ends of the posts or motor chassis supporting members 54 and 55 are adapted to be welded to the lower and intermediate frame members 5| and 53. A pair of angled bracing members 56 and 5'! are disposed between the lower'and intermediate frame members 5| and 53 on the outer sides of the posts or supporting members 54 and 55. The bracing members 55 and 5'! are inclined to the vertical being disposed in upwardly convergent relation with their upper ends welded to both the intermediate frame member 53 and the posts 54 and 55 respectively. The lower ends of the bracing members 56 and 5'! are welded to the upper side of the lower frame member 5|.

A centrally disposed upright frame member 58 is welded between the upper frame member 52 and the intermediate frame member 53. The intermediate upright member 58 is disposed substantially centrally between the supporting members 54 and 55 and extends upwardly therefrom. A substantially rectangularly-shaped window or panel supporting member 59 is disposed at one side of the upright 58 being welded along one side as at 6|) to the adjacent side of the upright 58 and welded as at 6| to the under side of the upper frame member 52. A pair of relatively short connectin members 62 and 53 are welded between the lower side of the rectangular frame 58 and the intermediate frame member 53.

A second rectangular frame structure 64 is disposed on the opposite side of the upright 53 being welded as at 85 to the upright 58 and welded as at 66 to the upper frame member 52. A pair of spaced apart connecting members 61 and 58 are interposed between the lower side of the frame member 64 and the intermediate member 53, being welded between the frame 64 and the frame member 53. A substantially U-shaped frame member 69 has the bight 1|] thereof welded as at 1| to the outer side 12 of the frame 59 and the parallel legs 13 of the U-frame 69 are longitudinally bent so as to substantially conform to the curved configuration of the upper and intermediate frame members 52 and 53. The rear ends of the parallel sides 13 of the U member 69 are welded as at T4 to the upright angle member 34 and the uppermost side 15 of the U member 69 may be welded to the under side of the outer arcuate portion of the upper frame member 52. A second U-shaped window frame member 16 has the bight 1'! thereof welded as at 18 to the outer vertical side of the rectangular frame 64 and the parallel legs 18 and 19 thereof are longitudinally bent and extend rearwardly, being welded to the adjacent upright 34. The upper leg 19 may be welded as at to the adjacent arcuate edge of the upper frame member 52.

The .rear wall structure I3 includes a lower channel or tubular member 8!, which is formed with a straight intermediate portion 82 and arcuate opposite end portions 83. The arcuate opposite end portions 83 may be welded to the rear end portions of the rear well forming members 33. An upper rear'frame member 84 is formed with a substantially straight intermediate portion 85 and arcuate opposite end portions: 86, which may be formed integrally with or be welded to the rear end portions of the upper tubular frame members I6. A pair of door frame forming uprights 87 and 88 are welded between the lower rear frame member 8| and the upper frame member 85. The upright frame members 81 and 88 are spaced apart a distance sufiicient to provide a relatively wide door and in practice are disposed at the point of mergence of the arcuate end portions of the frame members BI and 84 with the intermediate straight portions 82 and 85 respectively. An intermediate arcuate frame member 89 is disposed between the lower and upper arcuate frame members 83 and 86 and is Welded at one end to the upright 81.

The opposite end of the arcuate end member 89 may be formed integrally with or be welded to the rear 'end portion of an intermediate side frame member IT. The upright 88 also has welded thereto an intermediate longitudinally arcuate frame member 99, which may also be welded or otherwise fixedly secured to or formed integrally with the adJ'acentside tubular frame member IT. A rear upright frame member 9| is disposed between the rear upright frame member I8 and the rear frame structure, being secured at its upper end to the rear portion of the upper frame member I6 and secured at its lower end as at 92 to the upper Side of the well forming member 33 at a point forwardly from the rear or lower end portion thereof. The intermediate portion of the upright 9| may be welded as at 93 to the intermediate frame member IT.

The bottom wall structure I2 comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart parallel transversely disposed channel or tubular members 94, which are welded as at 95 to the lower frame member I5. A longitudinally extending tubular torsional member 96 extends longitudinally through the transverse median of each floor member 94 being welded thereto as at 91. The rear end portion of the tubular member 96 may also be welded as at 98 to the forward side of the rear frame member 82. The forward end portion of the tubular member 99 terminates rearwardly of the front wall structure I4 and preferably is welded to a forward floor member 99, which may be constructed in the form of a. pair of channel members 99 and 99 disposed in side-by-side relation and welded together.

The forward one 99 of the two channel members 99 may be formed with a downwardly offset intermediate portion I 99 within which the lower end portion of the transfer housing forming the subject matter of my copending application filed of even date herewith may loosely engage. Preferably the channel member 99 may be formed as a part of the motor supporting frame or chassis which also forms the subject matter of my copending application for a power plant frame filed of even date herewith. A vertically disposed angle member I M is adapted to be secured to the upper side of the forward bottom member 99 at one side of the tubular member 96 and a horizontally disposed angle member I92 is welded to the vertical angle member [BI and is also welded to a vertically disposed angle member I93. The lower end of the angle member I93 may be welded or otherwise secured to the lower frame member I5. A triangular bracing member or gusset I94 is. disposed. between the angle formed by the upright I91 and the horizontal member I92 and an outer upper gusset 0r bracing member I95 is welded to the upright I93 and the angle member I92. A pair of lower triangular bracing members I96 and I9! are welded to the lower channel member 99 and. the uprights I9I and I93 respectively. A second upright angle member I98 is welded atits lower end to the forward channel member 99 at the opposite side-of the central tubular" member 96 and an upper angle member I99 is welded between the upright I98 and an outer upright 9. A pair of triangular bracing members III and H2. are'welded between the upright I98 and the horizontal member I99 and between the upright H9 and the horizontal member I99. A pair of lower triangular bracing members H3 and H4 are welded between the upright I98. and. the. transverse chan-* nel' member 99 and the channel member 99 and the upright II9 respectively.

The pair of rectangular frame structures formed by the forward channel member 99 and the uprights I9I and I93 and the horizontal member I92 together with the uprights I98 and I19 and the horizontal. member I99 form part; of the rear portion of the. motor chassis, morespecifically described in my copending application filed ofv even date herewith. The forward channel member 99 is connected with the next adjacent channel member 94 by means of a longitudinally extending channel member I15, which is disposed atone side of and in spaced parallel relation with respect to the longitudinal tubular member or torsion tube 96.

The top wall structure I I comprises a plurality of longitudinally bowed transversely extending tubular members II6, which are disposed in upright position and which have the lower free ends thereof welded to the upper side of the upper frame members I6. A centrally disposed and longitudinally extending tubular member I I1 is welded to the central portions of the bowed members H9 and is provided with curved portions II8 and H9 at the opposite ends thereof which extend downwardly and are welded to the upper front frame member 52 and the rear upper frame member 94' respectively,

A plurality of box-like frame members I29 are welded between certain pairs of the bowed top wall forming members H6, being positioned in substantially the longitudinal center of the top wall structure I I. These box-like frame members I29 provide a means whereby a ventilating plate or cap may be mounted above the top wall structure I I.

The combined truck or vehicle body frame and chassis hereinbefore described is adapted to be formed substantially out of tubular material, which may be partly round in transverse section and partly square in transverse section and may also be formed out of channel members in certain parts thereof. The several tubular or channel members comprising the frame structure are adapted to be entirely welded together where the several parts are connected with or touching each other so as to form a substantial integral or rigid frame structure, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing an extra chassis which may be secured to the bottom wall of the truck structure, as is the usual method of forming a truck or vehicle body. The rear wheels are adapted to engage in the rear well forming members 33 and preferably a drop rear axle structure similar to that embodied in my copencling application is adapted to be secured to the under side of the frame structure hereinbefore described and to extend therebelow. The motor chassis or supmotor frame or chassis welded to the forward side of the transverse channel ortubular member 99* with the ends of the rear portion of the motor supporting frame welded between the two lower side frame members l5, as shown in Figure 5.

What I claim is:

a '1. A skeleton metal body frame structure for.

vehicles including a pair of side walls, a bottom wall; front and rear end walls, each of said side walls comprising an elongated horizontal upper tube and a second elongated horizontal lower tube, spaced vertical tubes connecting said upper and lower tubes, brace tubes connecting said vertical tubes for bracing the side walls against vertical stresses, a pair of upwardly arched wheel well forming members secured to said lower tube adjacent the extremities thereof, vertical angle ironbraces connecting said upper tube to said wheel well adjacent the front of the vehicle, a window frame secured to said upper tube and to said angle irons, said front wall comprising horizontal upper, lower and medial tubes, vertical tubes connecting said front lower and said medial tubes, a central vertical tube connecting said upper and said medial tubes, a substantially rectangular window frame comprising a continuous tube secured along its upper edge to said upper tube and along one side edge to said central vertical tube, said latter window frame constituting a front wall bracing means, brace tubes connecting said window frame to said medial tube, a channelled transverse member connecting said side walls together adjacent the forward ends of the latter, a pair of outer uprights secured to said transverse member adjacent the outer ends of the latter, a pair of inner uprights secured in spaced relation to said transverse member, a pair of horizontal members connecting said inner uprights with said outer uprights, and triangular bracing webs secured to said inner and outer uprights and to said transverse and horizintal connecting members, said inner and outer uprights and said horizontal connecting members being correlated with said front wall vertical connecting tubes in providing an engine assembly support.

2. A skeleton metal body frame structure for vehicles including a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, front and rear walls, each of said side walls comprising an elongated horizontal upper tube and a second elongated horizontal lower tube, spaced vertical tubes connecting said upper and lower tubes for bracing the side walls against vertical stresses, brace tubes connecting said vertical tubes, a pair of upwardly arched wheel well forming members secured to said lower tube adjacent the extremities thereof, vertical angle iron braces connecting said upper tube to said wheel well adjacent the front of the vehicle, a window frame secured to said upper tube and to said angle irons and providing a bracing means for the latter, said front wall comprising horizontal upper, lower and medial tubes, vertical tubes connecting said medial and said lower tubes, a cen' tral vertical tube connecting said upper and said medial tubes, a pair of window frames secured to and positioned on opposite sides of said central vertical tube and constituting a bracing means for said front wall, each of said window frames comprisinga substantially rectangular, tubular, continuous frame, said window frames having their upper edges secured to said upper horizontal tube with their inner side edges secured to said central vertical tube, braces connecting the lower edges of said latter frames to said medial tube, said first window frames being secured along their front side edges to the outer side edges of said second pair of window' frames, a channelled transverse member connecting said side walls together adjacent the forward ends of the latter, apair of outer uprights secured to said transverse member adjacent the outer ends of the latter, a pair of inner uprights secured in spaced relation to said transverse member, a pair of horizontal members connecting said inner uprights-with said outer uprights, and triangular bracing webs secured to said inner and outer uprights and to said transverse and horizontal connecting members, said inner and outer uprightsand said horizontal connecting members being correlated with said front wall vertical connecting tubes in providing an engine assembly support.

ARTHUR R. PERKINS. 

